2023 Cricket World Cup: Paytm left out, BookMyShow gets rights to all venues

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken away the rights for ticket sales of the 2023 50-over World Cup from Paytm, the financial technology company, and given them entirely to BookMyShow, which now holds rights in all 12 venues that will host World Cup games and warm-up ties.

In an earlier arrangement, Paytm were allowed to sell tickets in seven venues while BookMyShow were to sell tickets in five venues.

There are 10 venues that will host the World Cup games while two others – Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati — have been earmarked only for warm-up matches. Hyderabad is the only venue to host both — the warm-up and World Cup matches.

“The decision regarding the vendors was taken on Monday and it gives BookMyShow rights to sell tickets at all the 12 venues. Paytm for some reason won’t be allowed to sell tickets,” said an official aware of the development.

The vendor, in this case BookMyShow, gets a percentage on sale of tickets. It is generally 5% of the price of the ticket.

Besides revenue, it also adds to the company’s reputation.

The official said that initially both Paytm and BookMyShow were allotted six venues each.

“However, since BookMyShow had Ahmedabad, an extra venue was given to Paytm taking their count to seven,” added the official.

However, it has been now decided to give all the venues to BookMyShow.

The official couldn’t explain the reason behind the change.

As of now Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Dharamsala, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and Pune will host the World Cup matches while Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram will be hosting warm-up games along with Hyderabad.

The World Cup runs from October 5 till November 19. The 10 warm-up matches will be played between September 29 to October 3.

The ICC has announced that tickets will go on sale from August 25.